Wednesday, September 23, 2015

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for Sept. 23, 2015

11
YEARS AGO

SEPT.
30, 2004

“Monroe County Tigers top
Hillcrest Jaguars: Every high school sports story in south Alabama over the
past week and a half has had a reference to Hurricane Ivan and the havoc it
played with game cancellations and re-scheduling. Hillcrest’s 18-14 loss at
Monroe County High Friday night in Monroeville was no different.

“Yes, the game was played on
its proper night and at the regularly scheduled time at 7 p.m. However, very
little else resembled a regular football Friday night. There may have been 300
total spectators in the stands at a game that usually draws 2,000 to 3,000.”

Outstanding Monroe players in
that game included Taylor Anderson, Watson Black, Terrell Richardson and Omar
Scott.

“Generals roll over Warriors:
Generals usually prefer a ground attack. However, the Generals from Abbeville
Christian opted to soften up the Sparta Academy defense with a quick striking
aerial attack before turning aloose the ground troops. The result was a 52-14
shellacking of SA last Friday in Evergreen.

“Sparta’s touchdowns came on
runs of five and 15 yards by Chase Brown. Tony Raines scored a two-point
conversion run after the first of Brown’s touchdowns.”

Other standout Sparta players
in that game included Will Ivey and David McGinity.

26
YEARS AGO

SEPT.
28, 1989

“Jaguars claw Bulldogs 27-7
for fifth victory: The Hillcrest Jaguars improved their record to 5-0 last
Friday night with a convincing 27-7 win over fourth-ranked 4A powerhouse
UMS-Wright Bulldogs of Mobile.

“The Jaguars were led by
Derrick Richardson with 91 yards on 21 carries, and John Gulley with eight
carries for 81 yards. The Jaguars were led defensively once again by Russell
Meeks with eight solos and three assists.”

Other outstanding Hillcrest
players in that game included Marvin Cunningham, Fred Fountain, John Johnson,
George Moncrease, Keith Richardson, Terrance Rudolph and Tyrone Sigler.

“Ashford hands Sparta first
loss: Ashford Academy upset previously unbeaten Sparta Academy 14-8 in Ashford
Friday night in a game of evenly matched teams as the statistics will show.

“Quarterback Tim Salter
scored Sparta’s only touchdown on an eight-yard run and then passed to Steven
Gall for the extra two. Salter was good on 12 of 32 pass attempts for 101 yards
and had one interception.

“Coach Chuck Ledbetter’s
Warriors will try to get back on the winning track when they host Crenshaw
Christian Academy of Luverne Friday night.”

Other outstanding Sparta
players in the Ashford game included Jason Baker, Craig Blackburn and Jeff
Brundage.

41
YEARS AGO

SEPT. 26, 1974

“The Lyeffion Yellow Jackets
upset previously undefeated McKenzie High by 13 to 0 at the Lyeffion Stadium
last Friday night.

“Veteran Coach Wendell Hart
praised his entire defensive unit for a fine effort that blanked the Tigers. He
said the kicking game was excellent with Joey Garrett booming the ball and the
downfield men covering well. Garrett also kicked one extra point.

“Quarterback Raymond Brown
scored both touchdowns behind good blocking, going in from the five and 10 yard
lines.”

“Aggies notch thriller over
Tigers 8 to 7: After losing two consecutive games, the Evergreen High Aggies
broke their losing streak by winning a thrilling victory over the Monroeville
Tigers, 8-7, Friday night.

“The Aggies… drove 64 yards
and scored on an eight-yard run by Albert Stallworth. The two-point conversion
came on a pass from Mike Faulkner to Darris Champion.”

Other standout Evergreen
players in that game included Marvin Williams, Pat Dawson and Willie Ingram.
Standout Monroe County High Scholl players in that game included Willie Lett
and Johnny Bartlett.

“Bulldogs Jet Past Aggies In
Opener: The City of Evergreen turned out en mass to witness the first football
game on the ‘Aggie’ schedule. The weather was cool, in fact, just right for the
game. The home team ran onto the field amid the shouts and yells of
encouragement from the Evergreen side of the stands. The Evergreen High School
band, resplendent in their colorful uniforms, played before the game and during
half-time, much to the delight of the crowd.

“The crowd that attended is
reputed to have been one of the largest in several years. Quarterback Club
members did an admirable job at the gates as the cars streamed into the parking
lot without incident.

“The Bulldogs used a punt
return play to take a 20 to 6 heartbreaker from the Evergreen Aggies. The
Aggies scored their only TD following the half-time break when James Reeves
plunged two yards. The touchdown play was set up by a 40-yard pass. Billie Bateman
threw to Leon Stinson who reached high above a defending Bulldog to bring the
ball down on the Andy 10-yard line.

“There were several new faces
in the Aggie starting line-up: Billy Bateman, Leon Stinson, Phillip Brown, H.W.
Ward and Edwin Harper were all new starters. Paul Hardin, James Reeves, Jimmy
Eddins, Billy Melton, Ceylon Strong and Wayne Stinson returned from last year’s
squad.”

“Aggies Tackle Tigers Here
Friday Nite At 8: The Evergreen ‘Aggies,’ sharpened to a fine edge, will take
on Monroeville Friday night at 8:00 at Brooks Stadium.

“Many of the kinks that
hindered EHS in their first game have been ironed out. The team is ready for
revenge, and the old rivalry between the Aggies and Monroeville will come to
the fore at kickoff time.

“The Aggies will have the
same line-up as they had when they played the Andalusia Bulldogs. Edwin Harper
who was slightly injured in the game with Andy, will be back in the starting
line-up.”

71
YEARS AGO

SEPT.
28, 1944

“Castleberry Soldier on Football
Team: Pvt. Luther McDonald of Castleberry, stationed at Chatham Field, Georgia
as a B-24 bomber mechanic and gunner is a member of the Chatham Field football
team. This team is composed of former college and high school players from all
over the United States, and has several all-Americans on this year’s squad.
Coach and backfield ace is Lt. William (Tarzan) White, All-American, who played
for Alabama.

“This team has a stiff
schedule, having won a game from Newberry College Sept. 17 by a good score. They
will play such teams as the Marines, University of Arkansas, Texas Christian
and many others.

“McDonald is a starter on the
line-up and is playing a bang-up game as right tackle. He played on the 37, 38
and 39 teams from Castleberry high school and on one of the last teams at
Castleberry.”